Course | Description |
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RS 101 Introduction to Religion | Why am I here? What is my purpose in life? Why do bad things happen to good people? Is there life after death? Questions regarding human origins and the meaning of human experiences have captivated minds for centuries. Often, the answers to these questions have taken religious shape and spurred the creation of a variety of religions around the world. This course will explore both historic and contemporary expressions of religious concern. Students will be introduced to major concepts in the study of world religion. Additionally, notions of God, faith, religious experience, and theological reflection across religions will be among the topics examined. |
RS 102 Exploring World Religions | Religion and humanity are inextricably interconnected: every civilization on record has articulated ideas and established patterns of life that can be viewed as religious, and religious thinking has had a profound effect on the development of human cultures through time and around the globe. The study of religion is thus central for understanding both human history and the discussions and debates that animate contemporary world affairs. This course will present a survey of the world’s religions in their socio-historical contexts by focusing on each tradition’s major beliefs and practices, historical development, and contemporary expressions of faith. |
RS 200 Jesus in Early Christianity | “Who do people say that I am?” Jesus’ question elicited a variety of responses in the ancient world. To his supporters, Jesus was a teacher of wisdom, miracle worker, prophet, king, and son of God. His detractors, however, dismissed him as a charlatan, sorcerer, vagabond, and criminal. In our modern age, biblical scholars are also divided in their views of Jesus, identifying him as a philosopher, magician, apocalyptic prophet, social revolutionary, and mystic. What can we know about the person of Jesus, and how was he remembered by his followers and opponents? A critical examination of the New Testament gospels, other Christian, Jewish, and pagan testimonies, archaeology, and iconography will introduce students to the varied perceptions of Jesus in the ancient world. |
RS 202 Religion and Social Justice | Social justice is a field of study that analyzes the social systems and cultural values that contribute to injustice and develops strategies to create new social structures that offer fair treatment for all. This course will examine the ideas and theories that shape a critical approach to social justice and explore how religious traditions have engaged and applied them to create positive changes in society. Special attention will be given to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, which provide a framework for assessing current advocacy work on topics such as the preservation of human dignity and community solidarity, the rights of workers, poverty, and ecological sustainability,. Students will deepen their social justice literacy by participating in a service learning project that addresses current social justice problems. |
RS 203 Epochalypse, Now: Excavating the Anthropocene | In ancient Jewish and Christian literature, stories describing the transmission of divine revelations to humans about their place in the world were called “apocalypses”: they “uncovered” previously hidden truths to help people live in times of crisis. The modern world faces its own crises, but those who announce and help us live through them are scholars, artists, and activists rather than otherworldly beings. In this course we will listen to their analyses of life in our present geological epoch, the Anthropocene (anthropos: human; cene: new). What are the causes and characteristics of this new, human-centered period in world history? How should we live our lives on an increasingly imperiled planet, and what might follow the probable collapse of our world’s ecosystems? A survey of the main characteristics of the Anthropocene provides a foundation for studying a range of religious, philosophical, and cultural responses to living in this period and exploring what might follow the age of “peak man.” Credits: 3 |
RS 206 Franciscanism | This course is intended to serve as a religious studies elective. It is designed to provide students who have chosen to attend a Franciscan college, a deeper understanding of the lives of St. Francis and St. Clare and a greater appreciation of the impact of their teachings upon the Church. The course will focus on the Franciscan traditions that serve as the core of Hilbert College's identity: respect, service, hope, vision, joy, integrity, compassion, and peace. |
RS 299 Special Topics in Religion | This course examines issues of contemporary political, social, and cultural significance (e.g., pilgrimage, climate change, migration) through the lens of religious texts and traditions. The interdisciplinary nature of the course will help students understand the topic’s complexity and provide opportunities for assessing how the critical study of religion intersects with and contributes to these discussions. |
RS 300 American Religious History | This course traces the religious history of the United States from the Age of Exploration to the present by examining how religious ideals influenced and were shaped by the social, political, and cultural contexts of American life. Specific attention will be given to themes such as religious freedom and oppression, the relationship between church and state, the interpretation of scripture, religious dissent, and toleration, diversity, and pluralism. The investigation of these topics will provide students with an understanding of the imprint that religious traditions have made on American culture and an appreciation for the country’s ever-shifting religious landscape. |
RS 316 Christian Centered Leadership | This is a multidisciplinary course that explores world religions, the history and evolution of Christianity, Biblical excerpts, a survey of Saints, principles of Catholic Social Teaching, Franciscan values, servant leadership, Christian centered leadership, contemporary Christian leaders, and personal spiritual reflections. |